Mirage (7 page)

Chapter Seven

About a year later …

“Ms. Adams, you have a call on line three,” Paige, the receptionist at the real estate firm I work for pages through the intercom.

“For the last time, Paige, please call me Mira. It’s been a year. No need to be so formal,” I joke back with Paige.

Paige is adorable. She is just finishing her freshman year at the University of Michigan. I started work at New Horizons Real Estate Company within the week I moved out of my apartment. I had to go to the university a couple weeks later for an alumni breakfast. I promised an old professor that I would attend and speak to the incoming freshman during orientation about the hazards of drunk driving.

That’s where I met Paige. She reminded me so much of myself. I immediately started a conversation with her. Found out that she was going to live on campus and would need a part time job. The real estate firm was in need of a part time receptionist.

The rest is history.

“Sorry Mira, I won’t do it again,” Paige says apologetically.

“It’s fine. Let me grab my call,” I say.

“Good afternoon, Mira Adams speaking, how may I help you,” I say into the phone receiver.

“Bitch, I’m back. Drinks on me,” a familiar voice says on the other end of the call.

“Kylee?” I question.

“Are there other girls that would just call you at work and address you as bitch? If so, I’m kind of pissed off that I have been replaced,” she says jokingly.

“Oh my gosh, Ky. I haven’t talked to you in so long. How long are you in town ?” I ask.

“Two week vacation babe and I couldn’t think of anywhere I would rather spend it,” she responds to my question.

“I’ll leave early. Meet me at my mom’s. We can get ready there,” I tell her.

“Boom. It’s a plan. Get ready little lady, I’m in a mood to turn up,” Kylee says, way too excitedly before she hangs up.

Knowing that my best friend is in town, I know that I’m not going to get anything done today. I haven’t really used any of my personal days since I started and I know if I don’t use them soon, I’ll lose them. I turn my phone on ‘do not disturb’ and walk down the hall to the broker’s office.

leaving

“Come on in,” he says.

“Hey Jacoby. I was wondering if it would be ok, if I left early today,” I ask.

“What’s going on Mira, are you feeling sick,” he asks with a worried look in his eyes.

“Oh no, it’s nothing like that. My best friend just got in town and she is staying with me. I totally forgot she was coming and didn’t leave a key for her. It will take me about a half hour to get home and back and it’s already two. I would just like to take the rest of the day off, if that’s okay,” I explain. It was the truth but also a lie, so I don’t feel any guilt about it. I’m too excited to see Kylee.

“Yeah Mira, that’s fine. Just be sure to transfer your calls to your cell phone for the afternoon. You’re too important around here for someone to not be able to reach you,” Jacoby says.

“Thanks Jacoby, no problem. See you Monday,” I say as I walk out and close his door.

Jacoby Roberts is really a great boss. He’s super laid back and kind of lets us do what we do. Most brokers in this industry are hell bent on micro managing, but not Jacoby. There have been a few times I’ve met him outside of work with other co-workers for drinks. He’s just as laid back in the office as he is out of it. Let’s just say, if Jacoby weren’t my boss I would like to get to know him a little better.

Jacoby stands over six feet tall with dark hair and hazel eyes. He has this confidence that makes him so fucking sexy. I often wonder if that’s what brings in the clients. Don’t get me wrong, the man is excellent at his job, but it can’t hurt that he is so easy on the eyes while doing it

I make it home in record time. I forgot how little traffic is on the highways at this hour. I pull up to my parent’s house to see Kylee’s car sitting at the curb. I am literally smiling ear to ear

I don’t see Kylee in her, car so I park in the driveway and go into the house through the side door. As soon as I walk in, I can hear my mom and Kylee laughing and talking about ‘the good old days’.

“Do you remember the time when you and Mira got lost going to that concert a few years ago? You guys called me in a panic because you got on I75 going the wrong direction and ended up in Detroit,” my mom asks Kylee. I’m not sure she even asked. She is barely able to get the words out, she’s laughing so hard.

“Oh God, Mrs. Adams, yes, how could I forget that? Mira almost started crying,” Kylee says back to my mom.

“I remember that too. That was a pretty scary night,” I say joining the conversation. “Remember we had to pull off somewhere near 8 mile and call Danny and Skylar to come pick us up because I was too scared to drive?” I add.

“Hell, that was a good time. How is Skylar anyway?” Kylee asks.

So, in the last year, Kylee and I haven’t talked that much. To be honest, we haven’t really discussed Skylar since I called her that morning. Sometimes he comes up in general conversation, but I quickly change the subject. She knows that I moved out and live back at home now. I guess she hasn’t talked to Skylar either.

“I guess he’s okay. We haven’t really talked for a while. Last I heard, he moved out of the apartment and is living somewhere closer to the city with some friends,” I say nonchalantly.

“Hmmm, okay, I’ll let it slide for now,” Kylee says giving me a weird look. A look that told me, ‘you’re not telling me something and I’m going to get you drunk and get it out of you’. I don’t like that look. That particular look has worked in the past, very well, might I add.

“Mira, Danny is totally in love with you. Don’t you see the way he looks at you? I see the way you look at him,” Kylee said to me as we were
leaving the off campus pool hall.

We had just met Danny and
Skylar there for a couple of beers and a game of pool. The owner was pretty cool and didn’t second guess our fake ID’s. We typically went there every couple of weeks to blow off steam.

“Kylee, he doesn’t look at me any kind of way. We’re friends, nothing more,” I said.

“Yeah. Okay. I almost believe that. You never see it, do you? Boys look at you like you’re the only girl in the room. If I didn’t know that I was a total knockout, I would be uber jealous of you,” Kylee said, trying to make the conversation less uncomfortable for me.

“Whatever you say, Ky.
You must need a new prescription for your contacts, because your sight is totally off on this one,” I joked back with her.

“Uh huh,” Kylee said with a look in her eyes that I knew would end up being trouble down the road. “The guys had to leave to study for a quiz in Professor Jamison’s class tomorrow. Why don’t we get a few more beers before we go home? We don’t have classes tomorrow.”

“Alright, I don’t see the harm. As long as you promise we can walk home,” I said.

In Michigan, there is nothing better than the fall. There is no greater feeling than going to a party with a huge bonfire.
Hoodies, jeans, and sneakers are a requirement around these parts.

After more than a few beers, I was feeling wonderful. I had a great buzz. I wasn’t drunk or anything, but it was right at the point where your face kind of goes numb and you feel on top of the world. I love that feeling.

“So, Mi, about Danny. What’s going on there sunshine?” Kylee asked me again. I remembered answering this question earlier, but probably because of the alcohol, I decided to give her a little more of what she was looking for.

“Oh
Ky, he’s amazing. He’s so sweet. Danny is always opening doors, pulling out chairs, getting the bar tab and telling me I’m beautiful,” I gushed. “When we left the party the other night, he kissed me.”

Now I have been kissed before. I never really had any boyfriends or anything, but I had a few guy friends. Most girls practice kissing with their girlfriends, but not me, I do things outside the box. My first kiss was from a boy named Jason. He was a football stud and we were juniors in high school.

I kissed a few other boys after Jason, but nothing too exciting. But this kiss with Danny, WOW, it took the oxygen right out of my body. I felt like I was floating.

“I knew it. You little tramp. How are you going to hold out on your best friend?”

“I didn’t know it was such a big deal. It’s not like we’re dating or anything,” I rebutted.

“Mark my words, Mira Rae Adams, you’re going to marry that boy one day. I can see it as clear as day,” Kylee proclaimed.

I just laughed and shook my head at her.

Now I remember what I thought about that look she gave me earlier. Came back and bit me in the ass.

“We should grab dinner before we go out tonight. How does going downtown sound?” Kylee asks.

I haven’t been downtown in a long time, probably since before Danny passed. “Sure, we’ll get dolled up, go to dinner and maybe hit a bar,” I respond.

“I don’t really want to get all fancy. Maybe we can hit one of the Greek restaurants by the casino and then walk to a bar somewhere in Greektown?” Kylee asks.

“Fine by me. Give me an hour and I’ll be ready.”

Chapter Eight

Even though I was a little excited to get dressed up, Kylee was right. The weather was getting cooler. I had recently bought a brand new LBD and thought it would look perfect for a night on the town, but I probably would freeze my ass of wearing it. I opt for my favorite grey skinny jeans instead. I match the jeans with a shiny purple shirt that only has one sleeve, leaving me braless for the night. Even though it was cooler out, it was bound to be warm in a bar or restaurant.

I walk down the stairs to find Kylee in the living room getting her clutch ready for the night. Us Michigan girls do it right. We carry giant catch-all bags during the day and the cutest clutch purses at night.

Making sure I have the necessities in my clutch; license, credit card, cash, lip gloss and a condom, just in case, a gal can never be over prepared, I walk towards the couch where Kylee is sitting.

Kylee is wearing an outfit similar to mine; skinny jeans and sexy, but not too sexy top. She decided to match her outfit with a sparkly pair of black six-inch heels. I, on the other hand, decide to be a little more practical, knowing we were going to be walking around Greektown, chose a cute pair of black and purple ballet flats that matches this outfit perfectly.

“Ready, sexy,” I call out to Kylee.

“Let me check my hair, and I’m good to go,” Kylee says while walking to the full-length mirror in the hallway. “Damn I look good. Detroit boys, eat your hearts out.”

“There she is, ladies and gentlemen. The modest Kylee Anderson,” I joke as we walk out the door.

The ride downtown doesn’t take long, maybe twenty minutes. We decide to park in the casino parking garage knowing as long as we go into the casino, we can get our parking validated. Plus, it’s the safest parking you can find in the city at this time of night.

We choose a cute little Greek restaurant right outside the casino. We eat a wonderful meal and laugh about old stories. We even played a little game of remember so and so from that place. It was the best time I have had in a long time. I didn’t realize how much I missed Kylee until now. Talking on the phone and Facebooking just wasn’t the same as sitting down face to face. I make a mental note to figure out a way to solve this problem at another time.

We walk over to the casino to get our parking validated right after dinner. Check that off of our to-do list for the evening. I was never really into gambling, but I stand by while Kylee feeds a few dollars into a quarter slot machine. Of course with her luck, she wins one hundred dollars on her third go round.

“Drinks are on me, pretty lady,” Kylee says with a huge grin on her face. Of course I accept at the time, knowing that we were going to drink well over one hundred dollars. Especially since we’re drinking downtown.

We walk around, still laughing and joking, for about twenty more minutes before we come across a bar by the police department.

“How about this one? Do you get a good feeling about it, Lady Luck?” I ask.

“Let’s do it. There are some pretty awesome bikes parked out here. Maybe I’ll end up someone’s biker babe before the night is out,” she says laughing and walking towards the entrance.

There were quite a few motorcycles parked on the sidewalk in front of the bar. I hesitantly walk in behind her, not wanting to get any unwanted attention by some burly bikers. I do not want to be someone’s biker babe tonight. Shit, I don’t ever want to end up a frizzy haired blonde wearing an American flag as a bathing suit, biker babe. Maybe I watched too many 90’s music videos growing up.

“Mi, over here. I found us a table,” Kylee yells from across the crowed bar.

There are so many people in this bar. Looking around, there are about fifteen flat screen TV’s posted in each conceivable direction. It looks like some sort of game is on. Oh, that’s right, the Red Wings are playing tonight. That explains the heavy traffic in the bar at only ten at night.

The waitress comes over and to take our drink orders. Kylee and I always order the same thing. Cotton candy vodka and sprite with a lime on the side. It was kind of our signature drink in college. Neither one of us can stand the taste of alcohol, and the cotton candy flavor masks it. But you have to be careful, these things are so yummy, they sneak up on you quick.

“I hope this game is over soon. The sign on the door says they have a great DJ on Friday nights. I’m in the mood to dance,” Kylee says, taking a sip of her drink.

“That would be nice. I would love to dance too,” I say back to her.

After another forty-five minutes and three more drinks each, the game is over. The fans start to pay their tabs and leave, which is great. Now we can see a little more of the place. The bar is nice. It isn’t huge like most downtown bars and it has a cozy kind of atmosphere. That is until the college kids from U of D Mercy start coming in the doors.